Evidence for Evolution

1. Bactrian camels, dromedaries, llamas and alpacas are all members of the same taxonomic family, Camelidae. Members of this family all have two toes, no hooves, true canine teeth and a split upper lip. The family Camelidae originated in North America. The physical features of animals in this family and the family’s geographical origin provide evidence that all these animals ______

• Live in the same type of ecosystem.

• Have slowly evolved to become herbivores.

• Have a common ancestor.

• Exchanges DNA at some point.

1. The image shows part of the humerus bone in different genera of primates.

2.  Which statement is best supported by the observable structures of the different humerus bones?

• 1. The primates lived in similar environments.

• 1. The primates shared a common ancestor.

• 1. The primates interbreed with similar organisms in a population.

• 1. The primates had diets that consisted of similar types of foods.

The cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships among some mammals based on homologous structures. 

 Which statement is supported by this cladogram?

• 1. Hippopotamuses are more closely related to cows than to javelinas.

• 1. Toothed whales are more closely related to mouse deer than to hippopotamus.

• 1. Javelinas and pigs are more closely related than baleen whales and toothed whales.

• 1. Cows and mouse deer are more closely related than javelinas and pigs.

Three species of lizards of the genus Gallotia are found on the Canary Islands, a chain of seven volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. The easternmost island, Lanzarote is the oldest, while the   westernmost island, El Hierro, is the youngest. The distribution of lizard species is shown on the map .   

           Which statement about the ancestry of the lizards from the genus Gallotia is best supported by this  information?

• 1. The common ancestor of the lizards first colonized the island of El Hierro.

• 1. The ancestors of each species came from different continents at different times.

• 1. The common ancestor of the lizards probably came from Africa.

• 1. The ancestors of each species evolved in Spain and were brought to the islands at the same time.

Short Answer Response

        Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid sequences.   

            The table shows four partial amino acid sequences from four organisms.

           

          Which organism is the LEAST related to the other three? Explain your reasoning using at least three   

         sentences.